Can LETS support local food production?
Yes – as long as we have consent. Local food production is a business and, like in any business, cash has to be found at all stages. The grower needs to pay for labour on the land, the book-keeper (even if when it’s her husband!), the seedsman, the distributor, the packing and so on. And we won’t mention advertising. All of these people and all of the services may be found in one small area. If these people are prepared to accept local units (LETSystem money) for their time and effort, they will have created a local business which is sustainable, probably ethical and well and truly supported by LETS. The outcome is that local people are able to buy local food for part local money, in addition to each other’s “regular” services, on a daily basis. In our promotion of LETS, we are now looking more towards people who understand LETSystems and will set up their businesses to use LETSystems from the outset, as a normal part of business life. This is opposed to the “LETS activist” approach wh
